COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS!
Checkout the official Covid-19 Restrictions before you plan your travel to Hawaii. Specifically for Big Island here.
Big Island of Hawai’i, the largest of the Hawai’ian islands has so much to offer that it can sometimes be hard on your pocket if you don’t plan ahead. I think I might have mentioned before, but I am the kind of person who gets a kick out of value for money rather than fancy for money. This Big Island Travel guide is for all the people who are looking to enjoy this island by saving money wherever they can.
Big Island Travel Guide includes all the basic details one should be aware of and how they can avail it by spending as little money as possible. Basically, this travel guide includes our research and what we did to save $. So, let’s dive in!
Two Major Cities of Big Island, Hawai’i
Big Island has two major cities that people fly into – Hilo (the capital) on the east coast and Kona on the west coast. Below is a map of Big Island highlighted with the Top Amazing Things to do on Big Island.
$ Big Island Travel Guide Thrifty Tip $: Make sure you fly and stay closer to the places which offer the activities you want to do, it’s a money saver!
Best Time to Visit the Big Island of Hawai’i
Big Island of Hawai’i is a tropical island with temperatures ranging from 70s to low 80s throughout the year. So really, there is no wrong time to visit Big Island w.r.t temperature. However, you should know that travelling to Big Island can get expensive without some prudent planning. The list below should help you select an ideal month to travel.
$ Big Island Travel Guide Thrifty Tip $: Choose a time when demand is low and so are the prices!
- December-March or late September-October : Ideal time to visit, taking into account the weather and the cost.
- November : Good time w.r.t cost, however it is the rainiest month on Big Island.
- April-May : Good time w.r.t cost if you avoid the U.S. long weekends.
- June-August : Most expensive. Summer months are the busiest because people tend to visit when their kids are off school.
Our Big island Travel Guide General Rule : Select an off season month to reduce expenses. Keep in mind, it will be less crowded and hence more chances of a water activity getting postponed due to less number of people, so plan to have at least 1 day buffer or keep your itinerary flexible.
Fly to Hilo or Kona?
We usually use our Chase Card or our Ultimate Rewards link through our Chase account which give us great options at a discounted rate for being members and due to points. Click the links to check them out! Our other friend is Expedia, which also get us some good deals.
Flight expense during off season from west coast U.S.A. is approximately $600-$700, and flying from the west coast of U.S.A. might be cheaper. **Of course it depends from where you fly, But it is usually around this rate**
Kona International Airport
Kona International Airport on the west coast of Big Island, also known as Kailua, is a heaven for outdoor adventures. Along the Kona Coast you will find some mesmerizing views of the Volcano touching the ocean, close encounters with Ocean life and some authentic Kona Coffee! If you are an adventure junky, like us, Kona should be your first choice. It is also sometimes cheaper than flying into Hilo. It is the best place to fly into and stay if you are planning to snorkel/scuba dive for more than a day.
Do remember that Hilo, the waterfalls, the valleys, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, and Mauna Kea are on the east and middle of the island. So plan to drive if you stay on the west coast. This is what we did and no complaints! The drive along the coast was amazing!
Hilo International Airport
Flying into Hilo would be a good choice if you plan to spend more time exploring the valleys of Waipio and Pololu, pretty waterfalls, Hilo city and rainforests. This is on the east side of the island and if you are looking to get in some water activities, you will need to drive to the west, not a bad idea. The Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Mauna Kea, which are towards the middle of the island are closer to Hilo as well.
How to get round in Big Island?
As your Big Island Travel guide, we suggest a few options in the order of convenience/popularity:
- Rental Cars – Most popular and convenient option. This is what we did and usually do when we travel. This also turns out to be the cheapest flexible option.
- Booking Tour packages – There are companies which plan your itinerary and book your whole vacation, all inclusive in a group or private. An option if you are uncomfortable driving or just prefer it.
- Taxis/Uber/Lyft – There are Taxis which need reservation prior, on Big Island. Uber/Lyft is also available, but expensive.
- Public Transportation – If you want to get a real taste of local life, spend really less money and have loads of time on your vacation you can check out – https://heleonbus.org/ .
The best option is to rent a car and explore the Island on your own.
The Cheapest Way to rent a Car – TURO!
If you haven’t already heard of TURO, it’s a peer to peer car rental application. It is more like an airbnb for cars and trust me, its great and way less expensive! We paid just $250 including insurance for 4 days! as opposed to $400-$500 if you choose a rental car company. Check out more about TURO here – https://turo.com/
If you are in Washington State, USA, and you want to drive a sexy silver Tesla Model 3 with all autopilot features, do check us out on TURO – Tesla Model3
I will soon come up with an article describing our experience renting and hosting on TURO.
Where to Stay on Big Island?
Big Island has a good combination of AirBnbs and Hotels. Below is the view from our balcony at the hotel, lush tropical plants and an expanse of blue ocean.
Luxury resorts might be less in number compared to Maui but you can find some. We tend to spend less on accommodation since we make it a point not to stay holed up in a hotel but explore the Island. We spent just $400 for 4 days on a room with an ocean view (surprisingly) but less fancy. It was called the Manago Hotel, decent if you plan to come to the hotel only to sleep.
Things to do on Big Island
Big Island has plenty of things to do ranging from water activities to hikes to scenic drives to chilling on the beach.
The only things that might actually be expensive are Water Activities for which we recommend going through a tour company. Of course, if you are comfortable snorkelling in the ocean on your own, then its free. However, if you want to snorkel with Manta Rays then you need a tour company. Check out my other post for Top 10 Things to do on Big Island.
Food on Big Island
Big Island is a tropical Island filled with tropical delicacies. The food is reasonably priced. The best part we liked was the Tropical fruits. Don’t miss visiting the Farmers Market!
The one restaurant that stood out was an Indian food truck in Kailua-Kona – Swami’s Dosa Grill. It had amazing traditional South Indian Vegetarian food. So if you are looking for some yummy, lip smacking South Indian cuisine, then do check out this place! The food truck is located in a complex with other restaurants/eateries where you can also find the famous Hawaiian Shave Ice.
I hope this Big Island Travel Guide has given you a fair idea of how to enjoy this island and cut down your expenses at the same time, thanks for reading!
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